16th January 2012 - Issue 13

Chiswick Community School, Burlington Lane, London W4 3UN. Telephone 0208 747 0031

Also available online atwww.chiswick.hounslow.sch.uk

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PARENTSYour Weekly Newsletter

C H I S W I C K C O M M U N I T Y S C H O O L

Diar y Dates

Last Thursday determined squad of Year 7 girls faced their toughest com-petition yet. The girls qualified for the semi-finals despite losing 4-7 to Dray-ton Manor. This was the first major tournament the girls played together since joining Chiswick.

In the semi-finals, the girls had a re-match with Drayton Manor, but despite all efforts, lost by a close 2-1. The team however, still remains optimistic. Beth said 'for our first tournament we did re-ally well, now we can improve'.

This is a fantastic achievement con-sidering that year 7s have only been at Chiswick for 6 months! Congratula-tions!

Sports SectionJANUARY

Mon 16th - Fri 27thSixth Form Interviews

Tue 17th - 2nd Feb GCE/GCSE Exam Window

Thu 26th JanYear 9 Parents/Curriculum Information

Evening

Fri 27th - Mon 30thAS Geography Field Trip

Mon 30th - Fri 10th FebYear 9 Pathways Interviews

FEBRUARYSun 5th

Car Boot Sale

Year 7s First Major Tournament

Friends of Chiswick“Be a Friend... www.chiswickschoolfriends.org”

Full Steam Ahead For Conversion to Academy StatusAt a meeting of the governing body on 12th December, following an extensive consulta-tion process with staff, pupils, parents and all other local stakeholders and partners, the decision was made to convert Chiswick Community School to Academy status with a projected conversion date of March 1st 2012.

Before taking the decision, governors con-sidered a range of views submitted includ-ing those of parents who attended the con-sultation meeting on 22nd November and the 29 individual submissions received; of these, 25 were in favour of conversion and 4 against. We are grateful to everyone who took the trouble to respond. (Although small, the number actually compares fa-vourably with other recently converting schools). Governors also considered the headteacher’s financial projection and plan-ning detailing how the additional funding over the next three years will be used to assist our journey to becoming an Ofsted-graded outstanding school.

Governors also consid-ered various interesting and specific views put forward in the consulta-tion as to how the con-version might be imple-mented, including school name and uniform. Staff

and pupils were then consulted on chang-ing the school name. After taking all the views into account, governors decided at their meeting on 12th January that the name of the school after converting to an Acad-emy will be Chiswick School. Other ideas put forward will be also followed up in due course.

We will ensure that Chiswick continues to be an outward looking school keen to con-tinue partnership with all stakeholders, in-cluding Hounslow LA. We believe that this is the right decision for Chiswick students at this time, and will continue to ensure a seamless transition.Andrew dodge (ChAir of governors)

We all have much to learn and admire from the excellent achievements of our multilingual stu-dents. Melissa speaks fluent Japanese and has gained an A* in it at GCSE. She speaks fluent English too, as well as speaking some Italian. She is also studying French and Latin at school.

Shaghaiegh on the other hand barely spoke Eng-lish when she arrived from Germany three years ago. She is now taking a full range of GCSEs and has already achieved an A in German. At home she speaks Farsi and is planning to take the GCSE in it soon. She is also studying French at school.

Shaghaiegh does not plan to stop learning lan-guages. ‘I want to speak seven languages’, she says. ‘I plan to learn Chinese and Spanish in my gap year and I really want to learn Sign too as I have a relation who uses it. It is amazing. I may take the languages path. I am interested in a ca-reer in fashion. Languages will be very useful to me in that field too,’ she continued. ‘It will be useful if I work in a big company’, says Melissa. ‘I will be able to communicate with customers overseas. I would like to may be live in Japan because I like the culture and tradition in the country’.

Both girls see the value of learning languages beyond the highly paid careers that may ensue. ‘I can delve into different traditions and have a better understanding of different societies and cultures’ explained Melissa.

‘I love being able to communicate with so many other nationalities. It enables me to understand so much more about the world’, agreed Sha-ghaiegh.

Both girls are role models for the future and are on their way to becoming global citizens. There achievements can inspire us all to learn another language and break out of the insular attitudes that sometimes dominate in Britain.

CHISWICK ACHIEVERSLanguages enable our Multi Lingual Achievers to be Global Citizens

Students Raise Money For Chamboli Visit

Last Friday, Linda Ainas and Haneh Vaez of year 10 held a cake sale at school. This was being held in order to raise money for funds that will enable students from Chis-wick School to go to Chamboli High and students from the Zambian school to come here.

The two year 10s are carrying out this fun-draiser as part of their GCSE Citizenship project and are hoping to organise other events over the term. They will be selling key rings made in the DT department as well as cakes; Linda says they are ‘hoping to raise £100’ from their fundraising.

LAurA reid

This year’s annual school musical is Little Shop of Horrors, an American spoof style production about a giant plant which feed on human blood! It is set in the 1960’s in a no hope town called Skid Row. The main characters are Seymour and Audrey – played by Ellis Folkes (Year 10) and Saba Shiraz (Sixth Form). Audrey is dating the sadistic dentist Orin when she finds herself falling for Seymour – her nerdy but sweet colleague. This musical was made into a film which you may have seen over the Christmas holidays.

Ellis said 'rehearsals are quite hard because there are so many but im really enjoying it. I auditioned because I love acting. I go to the Questors Youth Theatre Group once a week so I just thought this would be a great opportunity to take part in some more act-ing and gain further experience'.

The cast are rehearsing every day after school, at breaks and on Saturdays to be ready for the two nights of performance (the 8th and 9ths of Feb). The music is be-ing played by a band of students, Mr Hick-son and Ms Raven, Sonny Barrett on bass, Tibor Babic on drums and Joe Aleshaiker on guitar. Sonny said 'it’s going to be a good experience because it’ll be difficult to learn the music in a short space of time but I will learn a lot from it'.

With a mix of exciting memorable songs and fantastic acting this year’s musical should have you grinning from ear to ear with its ridiculous but romantic story line and a strange but hilarious twist! So be sure to get your tickets as soon as they go on sale!ninA PryCe

Musical Rehearsals in Full Swing

Year 10 Take Their Languages GCSEsThe hall resounded to the dulcet tones of French listening exams as students worked hard to achieve their best, this week.

'The Year 10s took the exam very seriously' said Mr Walsh, Head of MFL, 'and I wish them all the best in their results'.

‘I found the reading exam easy’ said Jamil-lah Kelly a year 10 student. ‘The listening was more difficult. I am hoping for a good grade overall’

It is the turn of the students studying Ger-man, this Friday.

Melissa Frateantonio, Shaghaiegh Hoshiar Haghverdy